380 OTIDIDiE. 



figured as measuring from 1*7 to 1-95 ia lengbh and from 1-35 to 

 1-5 in breadth. Three eggs are figured, each with the ground 

 varying in shade — the one is pink, the second brown, and the third 

 an olive stone-colour, and they are blotched and freckled all over, 

 or speckled and clouded, with dark brown. 



To Mr. i\ A. Shillingford, of the Kolari Factory, Purneah, I am 

 indebted for the first egg of this species that I have succeeded in 

 procuring. 



This egg is of tlie same type, as regards texture and coloration, 

 as many of those which I possess of the Great Indian Bustard and 

 Lesser Florican, but is intermediate in size, and conspicuously 

 more elongated than those of either of the others. It is more of 

 the shape of a hen's egg, but rather more elongated than this even, 

 and decidedly more compressed towards the small end. The shell 

 is firm and strong, smooth and compact, but has little gloss. The 

 pore-pittings are very inconspicuous. 



The ground-colour is a dull pale green stone-colour, and it is 

 rather sparingly streaked and blotched with dull, rather pale 

 brown, somewhat greyer in some spots, more olivaceous in others. 



It measures 2-6 inches in length, by 1'76 in breadth. 



Mr. Shillingford says : — " The Plorican's egg I myself picked up 

 in June last. The female bird was seated on it when I first saw 

 her about 5 yards distant ; when she rose, I found one egg. There 

 was no attempt at a nest; the egg was lying on damp mud, with 

 the few blades of grass that were growing near trodden down. 

 Young birds have several times been caught in this district." 



Sjrpheotis aitrita (Lath.). The Lesser Florican. 



Sypheotides auritus {Lath.), Jerd. B. Ind. i\, p. 619; Hume, Hough 

 Draft N. ^ E. no. 839. 



1 have never myself found a nest of the Likh, but I have inquired 

 much in regard to their nidification. Although during the winter 

 and spring this bird strays all over India, the vast majority breed 

 in the western half of the Peninsula, between 15° and 25° north 

 latitude, rarely extending eastwards of 78° east longitude. 



October and September are the months in which most eggs are 

 to be met with. I have never had any authentic account of more 

 than four eggs being found in any nest. 



Writing from Sholapoor, last spring, Mr. "Wenden, to whom I 

 am greatly indebted for the trouble he has taken in procuring and 

 sending me eggs and information, and getting others to do like« ise, 

 remarked : — " The eggs I send you were taken here last September. 

 The nest was placed between the roots of several tufts of tussock- 

 grass growing in black soil and in the intermediate space. The soil 

 not being held up and protected by roots had been washed out or 

 had sunk from the effects of rain, and thus a natural basin had been 

 formed. In this the bird had excavated a saucer-shaped hole, 

 perhaps 4 inches deep and 9 inches in diameter, the bottom of 

 which was bare. Round the edges was a slight fringe of grass, 

 w hich had not so much the appearance of having been placed there 



